Polishing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A polishing apparatus for polishing particulate material including rocks, stones, gems, and the like by effecting an oscillating and vibrating movement of a platform with at least one container supported thereabove and having the material to be polished therein. The platform is resiliently supported and suspended within a support frame with drive mechanism on said platform for imparting vibratory motion thereto.

United States Patent [191 Funk POLISHING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: ChrisFunk, TraveLodge Junction l-70 & US. 283, Wakeeney, Kans. 67672 [22]Filed: Dec. 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 314,344

[52 us. Cl 51/7, 51/163 [51] Int. Cl B24b 19/00, B24b 31/06 [58] Fieldof Search 51/7, 6, 163; 241/175; 259/72, 54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,191,348 6/1965 Rampe51/163 3,449,869 6/1969 Rampe 51/163 1/1972 Kurosawa et al. 259/54- June4, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 240,603 10/1925 Great Britain;51/6 Primary Examiner0thell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Marc R.Davidson Attorney, Agent, or FirmFishburn, Gold & Litman ABSTRACT Apolishing apparatus for'polishing particulate material including rocks,stones, gems, and the like by effecting an oscillating and vibratingmovement of a platform with at least one container supported thereaboveand having the material to be polished therein. The platform isresiliently supported and suspended within a support frame with drivemechanism on said platform for imparting vibratory motion thereto.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures POLISHING APPARATUS The present inventionrelates to polishing apparatus and more particularly, to polishingapparatus operative to effect an oscillating and vibrating movement of acontainer having particulate items therein to be polished. Heretofore,polishing apparatus used for polishing rocks, stones, gems, and the likehave been relatively expensive and required long operating periods. Rockloss or breakage of rocks, stones, and the like has been a substantialproblem with the prior type apparatus using a rolling action,particularly for tear drop shaped stones. Such polishing apparatus weredifficult to service and required substantial time for cleanup of theapparatus and partic ulate items for each washing and exchange of grit.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide apolishing apparatus which polishes particulate items including rocks,stones, gems, and the like by effecting an oscillating and vibratingmovement of a container having the material to be polished therein; toprovide such a polishing apparatus particularly adapted for polishingnon-flat items; to provide such a polishing apparatus wherein rock lossor breakage is substantially less than in prior apparatus andparticularly for apache tear drops (obsidian) and the like; to providesuch a polishing apparatus particularly adapted for polishing items in acontainer positioned above a platform which is resiliently suspended andsupported; to provide such an apparatus wherein the container isremovably supported in an open top holder and easily lifted therefromfor servicing; to provide such a polishing apparatus wherein only aminimum amount of water is used with grit and polishing powder wherebycleanup is relatively easy; and to provide such a polishing apparatuswhich is economical to manufacture, durable in construction, positive inoperation, polishes the items in a relatively short time, andparticularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include anexemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features of the polishing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a polishing apparatus embodying featuresof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the polishing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the polishing apparatus with portionsbroken away to better illustrate component parts.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4, F IG. 3 andshowing means for suspending and vibrating a platform having the itemsto be polishedsupported thereabove.

F IG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of a frame sidemember showing the mounting of a platform suspension spring.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. However, it is to be un-' derstood that the disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodiedin various forms. Therefore, specific structural and func tional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art to variously employ the present invention invirtually any appropriate detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the referencenumeral 1 generally designates a polishing apparatus which polishesparticulate items or material including rocks, stones, gems, and thelike by effecting an oscillating and vibrating movement of at least onecontainer 2 having the material to be polished therein and mounted on asuitable'holder 3 extending upwardly from a platform 4 which isresilently suspended and supported within a support frame 5.

The polishing apparatus 1 may have any suitable support frame having theplatform 4 resiliently suspended and supported thereon as laterdescribed. In the illustrated structure, a base 6 includes a pluralityof legs 7 each adapted to be supported on a floor surface or the like.For leveling purposes, it may be desirable to mount suitable adjustableglides 8 on the lower ends of the legs 7. The base 6 preferably includessuitable bracing members 9, extending between and connected to the legs7 thereby providing a substantially rigidstructure.

The support frame 5 is secured to the upper ends of the legs 7 and maybe any suitable shape, however, the support frame 5 is illustrated asbeing generally rectangular in shape and having a pair of generally.parallel side members 10 and 11 which are laterally spaced apart and apair of end members 12 and 13 are substantially parallel and extendbetween respective opposite ends of the side members 10 and 11 andconnected thereto to form a rigid member framing an opening 14 withinthe support frame 5. I

The platform 4 preferably has a shape corresponding to the support frame5 and is illustrated as a generally rectangular member having a planartop surface 15 and a pair of substantially parallel side edges 16 and 17and a pair of generally parallel end edges 18 and 19. The side edgesl6and 17 are positioned to be substantially parallel with the side members10 and 11 respectively and the end edges 18 and 19 are positioned to besub-- stantially parallel with the end members 12 and 13 respectively.

The platform 4 is positioned in the opening 14 within the support frame5 and is resiliently suspended therein for vibratory movement withoscillations in a generally horizontal plane the oscillations having anamplitude in one direction being greater than the amplitude thereof in adirection normal to said one direction. The'mounting also providesarocking vibration. The mounting may be any suitable arrangement ofsprings to provide such motion and in the illustrated structure, themeans for resiliently suspending and supporting the platform 4 withinthe opening 14 in the support frame Sis a plurality of pairs of opposedsprings 21 and 22 each extending between a respective one of the sideedges of the platform 4 and the side members of the support frame 5. Thesprings are preferably suitably mounted to adjust the tension thereofand thereby the resistance to movement of the platform in the directionof the springs. This also adjusts the depression of the platform belowthe level of the spring ends connected to the frame 5. In theillustrated structure, the springs 21 and 22 are elongated coil springsand each have one end thereof suitably connected relative to respectiveside edges of the platform 4. Said springs on each side of the platformbeing spaced apart along the length of the side edges. The other ends ofthe springs on one side of the platform 4, for examplesprings 21, aresuitably connected relative to the side member of the support frame 5.The other ends of the springs on the other side of the platform 4, forexample, springs 22, are suitably movably supported relative to the sidemember 11 of the support frame 5. 1n the illustrated structure, aplurality of internally threaded sleeves 23 are positioned in and extendthrough the side member 11 of the support frame 5 and each of thesleeves 23 receive therein a respective one of a plurality of threadedshafts 24 each being connected to the other end of a respective one ofthe springs 22 whereby movement of the threaded shafts 24 within thesleeves 23 is operative to adjust the tension in the springs 21 and 22.The connection between the threaded shafts 24 and the respective springs22 may be any suitable connection permitting rotation of the shafts, asby suitable handles 25 each extending from and connected to a respectiveshaft 24 without effecting rotation of the respective springs 22. Theconnections between the threaded shafts 24 and the respective springs 22are each illustrated as a suitable swivel.

While the polishing apparatus 1 may have a single holder 3 and container2, it is preferable to have a plurality of containers 2 each supportedin a position above the platform 4, therefore, a plurality of holders 3are mounted on the upper surface of the platform 4 and are arranged inany desired pattern preferably any uniform pattern having the center ofthe pattern coinciding with the center of the platform 4. The holdershave base portions 26 illustrated as a flange rigidly secured to theplatform 4 by suitable fastening devices such as screws and the like 27.

The holders 3 may be any desired shape, however, in the illustratedstructure, the holders 3 are generally tubular members having an openupper end 28 adapted to removably receive a respective container 2therein. The holder side walls 29 define a shape at said upper end 28substantially conforming to an extension shape of a respective container2.

The containers 2 each have a shape preferably having interferringengagement to removably and frictionally retain the container 2 in therespective holder 3. The containers 2 may be any suitable material whichwill resist impact of particulate items to be polished and suitablematerials to effect polishing, such as carborundum grit and polishingpowder mixed with water. In the illustrated structure, the containers 2are cups or bowls with walls defining a receptacle of a capacity to holda desired quantity of material and of a depth whereby the material willremain therein during all vibratory operation. The depth of thecontainers is less than the height of the holders so that the bottom 2'of the containers and the material therein is spaced above the platform.The containers 2 preferably have an edge or flange engaging the upperedge of the holder wall to limit movement of the container into theholder.

Polishing of the items within the containers 2 is effected by anoscillating and vibrating action transmitted to the containers 2, thevibratory force being imparted in a plane substantially parallel to thesurface 15 of the platform. The illustrated means for effecting theoscillating and vibrating movement includes a drive motor 30 suitablysecured to a lower surface of the platform 4 and positioned at thecenter thereof and at the center of the arrangement of holders 3thereon. The drive motor 30 may be any suitable motor adapted to rotatea shaft 31.

A suitable rotatable member 32 is fixed on the shaft 31 and has a massor weight 33 thereon in spaced relation to the shaft 31 providing aneccentric load. The member 32 is preferably near the platform and in theillustrated structure, the shaft 31 extends through an aperture 34 inthe platform and the member 32 is positioned above the platform 4whereby rotation of the shaft 31 applies a force to the platform 4 whichis resisted by the springs 21 and 22 thereby oscillating same and withthe movement of the platform 4 being transferred to the containers 2 andthereby the material therein. The illustrated member 32 and weight 33are a disc mounted on the upper end of the shaft 31 and having a way orgroove 35 therein and extending substantially radially from the shaft31. A suitable weight 33 is movable along the way or groove 35 and issuitably secured in an adjusted position by a fastening device 36 tothereby vary the force applied to the platform 4.

The rotatable member 32 and weight 33 are enclosed by a guard or shield37 preferably having a cylindrical wall 38 with a base member or flange39 secured by suitable fastening devices such as screws 40.

In using a polishing apparatus constructed as illustrated and described,the particulate items to be polished are positioned in the respectivecontainers 2 and a minimum amount of water is placed in said containers.A selected grit having a desired size, such carborundum grit, and asuitable polishing powder is also placed in the containers 2. Thetension applied to the springs 21 and 22 is adjusted by means of thehandles 25 and preferably positioning the springs 21 and 22 with adesired depression of the platform 4 below the connection of the springsto the frame 5. The drive motor 30 is then activated or energized torotate the disc 32 with the weight 33 positioned in and secured in aselected position spaced from the shaft 31 thereby effecting anoscillating and vibrating action to the platform and the containers 2and the items therein. When a desired vibratory operation is completedthe motor 30 is stopped and the containers 2 may be lifted from therespective holder, the items cleaned and examined with a minimum of timeand work. If further polishing is desired, the items are replaced in thecontainers with desired grit, powder and water, the containers replacedin the holders and the motor energized to impart further vibratoryaction. The vibratory motion includes a rocking due to the depression ofthe platform and the spacing of the items in the container above theplatform. Also the amplitude of oscillation of the platform in thedirection of the spring axes is less than that in a direction normal toaxis of the springs.

It is to be understood that while 1 have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Apolishing apparatus for polishing non-flat items comprising:

a. a support frame having opposed spaced apart side members and opposedspaced apart end members, said side and end members defining a spacetherebetween', i

b. a substantially horizontal platform positioned within said space insaid support frame and having side and end edges spaced from said sideand end members respectively of the support frame;

c. a plurality of spaced elongate resilient means extending in opposedrelation between said side members of said support frame and saidplatform and connected thereto for movably and resiliently suspendingsaid platform within said support frame space whereby said platform ismovable up and down and horizontally;

d. at least one holder mounted on said platform and upstandingtherefrom;

e. a container mounted on said holder, said container having a bottomand upstanding side walls defining a receptacle adapted to receive andretain therein polish material and a plurality of items to be polished;and

f. means mounted on said platform and having an eccentric memberrotatable on an axis normal to the plane of said platform and operableto impart oscillatory motion to said platform for oscillating andvibrating said container and items and polish material therein therebyeffecting polishing of the items.

2. A polishing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a

a. said platform is generally rectangular;

b. said resilient means comprises a plurality of pairs of elongatedopposed springs each extending between a respective one of said sideedges of said platform and an adjacent side member of said support frameto suspend the platform therebetween;

c. said springs on at least one side of the platform being adjustablefor varying the resilient force applied to the platform to resist motionand to adjust platform depression in the suspended position by thesprings; and

d. said container is positioned with the bottom thereof spaced abovesaid platform.

3. A polishing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said platform is planar and has a plurality of said holdersupstanding from the upper surface thereof, said holders being hollowshells terminating in open upper ends;

b. said containers being positioned in respective holders and having adepth less than the height of the respective holder and having flangesremovably engaging upper portions of the holders for support of items tobe polished spaced above the platform; and i c. said means foroscillating and vibrating said platform is substantially centered onsaid platform.

4. A polishing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said holders are each an upstanding tubular member having an upperportion with a peripheral wall defining an open top;

b. said containers are cup-shaped members with a depth less than theheight of the respective holder. said containers having a peripheralsurface frictionally engaging the holder wall portion to retain thecontainer in the holder; and

c. said containers having stop portions engaging the holders to limitmovement of the container into the holder and position the container anditems therein spaced above the platform.

5. A polishing apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

a. said springs are elongate coil springs with the opposed springsaligned and the springs on a side being substantially parallel witheachother, said springs each having one end connected to a respectiveadjacent side of the platform;

b. spring connectors movably mounted on at least one side frame memberfor each spring at the respective side and' having connection with therespective spring, said spring connectors being selectively movablesubstantially in the line of the respective spring to adjust the tensionthereof;

0. said elongate springs being the sole support of said platform andproviding a suspension thereof with limited movement in all directionsand the resistance to movement in the direction of the springs beinggreater than in a direction transverse thereto.

6. A polishing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein: I

a. said oscillating means includes a motor mounted on said platform independing relation thereto and having a driven shaft on an axissubstantially centered between side and end edges thereof andperpendicular to the platform; and I b. said eccentric member being arotatable member connected to said motor shaft and having a weighteccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, said eccentric member beingadjacent to and above said plat

1. A polishing apparatus for polishing non-flat items comprising: a. asupport frame having opposed spaced apart side members and opposedspaced apart end members, said side and end members defining a spacetherebetween; b. a substantially horizontal platform positioned withinsaid space in said support frame and having side and end edges spacedfrom said side and end members respectively of the support frame; c. aplurality of spaced elongate resilient means extending in opposedrelation between said side members of said support frame and saidplatform and connected thereto for movably and resiliently suspendingsaid platform within said support frame space whereby said platform ismovable up and down and horizontally; d. at least one holder mounted onsaid platform and upstanding therefrom; e. a container mounted on saidholder, said container having a bottom and upstanding side wallsdefining a receptacle adapted to receive and retain therein polishmaterial and a plurality of items to be polished; and f. means mountedon said platform and having an eccentric member rotatable on an axisnormal to the plane of said platform and operable to impart oscillatorymotion to said platform for oscillating and vibrating said container anditems and polish material therein thereby effecting polishing of theitems.
 2. A polishing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. saidplatform is generally rectangular; b. said resilient means comprises aplurality of pairs of elongated opposed springs each extendinG between arespective one of said side edges of said platform and an adjacent sidemember of said support frame to suspend the platform therebetween; c.said springs on at least one side of the platform being adjustable forvarying the resilient force applied to the platform to resist motion andto adjust platform depression in the suspended position by the springs;and d. said container is positioned with the bottom thereof spaced abovesaid platform.
 3. A polishing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:a. said platform is planar and has a plurality of said holdersupstanding from the upper surface thereof, said holders being hollowshells terminating in open upper ends; b. said containers beingpositioned in respective holders and having a depth less than the heightof the respective holder and having flanges removably engaging upperportions of the holders for support of items to be polished spaced abovethe platform; and c. said means for oscillating and vibrating saidplatform is substantially centered on said platform.
 4. A polishingapparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said holders are each anupstanding tubular member having an upper portion with a peripheral walldefining an open top; b. said containers are cup-shaped members with adepth less than the height of the respective holder, said containershaving a peripheral surface frictionally engaging the holder wallportion to retain the container in the holder; and c. said containershaving stop portions engaging the holders to limit movement of thecontainer into the holder and position the container and items thereinspaced above the platform.
 5. A polishing apparatus as set forth inclaim 4 wherein: a. said springs are elongate coil springs with theopposed springs aligned and the springs on a side being substantiallyparallel with each other, said springs each having one end connected toa respective adjacent side of the platform; b. spring connectors movablymounted on at least one side frame member for each spring at therespective side and having connection with the respective spring, saidspring connectors being selectively movable substantially in the line ofthe respective spring to adjust the tension thereof; c. said elongatesprings being the sole support of said platform and providing asuspension thereof with limited movement in all directions and theresistance to movement in the direction of the springs being greaterthan in a direction transverse thereto.
 6. A polishing apparatus as setforth in claim 5 wherein: a. said oscillating means includes a motormounted on said platform in depending relation thereto and having adriven shaft on an axis substantially centered between side and endedges thereof and perpendicular to the platform; and b. said eccentricmember being a rotatable member connected to said motor shaft and havinga weight eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, said eccentricmember being adjacent to and above said platform.